Base pin lead-in wire cutter



` J. E. PRAY *2,218,480 L oct; 1S, 1940; y

` l; BASE PIN LEAD-1N WIRE CUTTER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Apr-i1 29, 1959 ot.'15;1 94o. J'EPRAY 2,218,480

BASE PIN 'LEAD-IN WIRE CUTTER Filed April 29, 1959 z sheets-sham. 2

l E Ml-1%? IN VEN 0R.

. festem 1519,40

4.UNITI-:o ySTATI-:s

PATENT lff'ori-Ica Application April 29, 197,39, Serial No. 270,738

s (c1. 14o-1re) This invention relates to wire cutting'devices v and more especially to a wire cutter for severing Y or trimming the ends o! lead-in wires in such Vso devices as radio tubes, lelectric lamps and the` like.

A principal object is to provide 'animproved cutting device for severing the projecting ends of lead-in wires which are threaded through corresponding contact prongs carried by an electrical device. 1

l In the manufacture ofsuch devices as radio tubes,l it is customary to fasten a tube base to the bulb on a basing machine provided with .a rotatable platform. or basing "reel, which is indexed in a step-by-step movement to bring Y each tube or Vbulb to a plurality of successive positions. At one of these positions, that is, `after `the base has been cemented to the bulb with .the lead-in wiresthreaded through the corresponding base contact prongs, a cutting wheelY is swung into cutting position. By reason-of this swinging movement o f the cutting wheelthe` wheel followsan arcuate path in an oscillatory motion so that the protrudingends of the leadi in wires are `cut of! at AdiiIerentv angles with re` spect to the several radis extending from the bases where the prongsare` all of substantially thesame length and its use lhas been confined thereforeto tubes with so-calledstandard bases vsuch forA example as the tubes sold under the .Sylvania" type numbers 24, 80 and 43. However, there are other. types of tube bases, y ampleso-c'alled Octal bases wherein a central locking and guiding pin is provided on he base which is longer than .the associated pro gs. Ex-

amples of( such tubes are uglylvania types GF6-G. It isobviousfthereftore, hat the conventionaluswingable cutter cannot be used to sever or trim `the lead-in wires on Octal base tubes.

Consequently, it is another-.principal'obiectof this invention to provide a cutting device which is capable of use with any stationaryor known form of basing machine'so that it can be used to trim or sever the lead-in wires oi standard ba'se tubes as well as Octal base tubes.

Another object is to provide a cutter which, instead of being swung or oscillated into and out of cutting relation, is revolvedin a circular path around the several contacty prongs.

A feature of the invention relates to an improved cutting attachment for use on standard radio tube basing machines. Y

. Another feature relates to a'lead-in wire cutting device for which device is 'readily adjustable to -vary the position ot the cutting reel with respec .fito the tube contact A further feature relates to a lead-in wire cutter successively 'with respect to the prongs of` a. radio tube base,A during the stationary intervals of said reel. i;

Astill further feature relates to the novel organization; arrangement and relative location of parts which constitutey anl improved lead-in wire irlmming arrangement for radio tubes and the e. In the drawings which represent a preferred embodiment, Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view oi a 'typical radio tube basing machine and wire cutter according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective of the cutter ,device of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical? sectional view oi' Fig. 2 to show the manner of `adjusting the cutter wheel vertically. j

As is well known, most radio tubes are provided detail view withy bases having conm-prongs usually in theA vformo! tubular metal pieces throughfwhich the various lead-in wires are threaded. The tubes are usually automatically based on a standard basing machine of known construction, the basing operations being generally as follows. f The operatory threads the lead-in .wires through the respective prongs,the wires being longer than the prongs ysolas to-tacilitatethe threading operation. Consequentxjfter the operator has properly adjusted the base on the bulb, the leadin wires protrude beyond the ends of the prongs and the excess lengthl of the lead-in wires must be trimmed oil' prior to soldering the ends of the wires to the ends ofqthe prongs. In order to obtain a rigid bond between the base and the tube, the base is' filled with a-t soft or green cement before the above-noted threading operation, and

[this cement is later hardened by baking.

` The basing machine which is shown schematically in' Fig. l, eomprissffa turn-table or basing reel R Ahich is provided with a shafts adapted to be ro ted in a step-by-step movement from a suitable motor M. 'I'he reel is provided around its periphery with a plurality of heads or bulb holders H whereby the bulbs when loaded on to the reel are brought tto successive positions, amongst which are'the baking'positions for hardeningthe basing ceniegtgfn one type of standard basing machine of known construction, there are 48 heads H which are equipped with clamps to hold the tubes with the bases and base prongs extending upwardly so that the bases can be subjected to a baking heat in the successive positions of the reel R. In this standard machine therefore, the heads are spaced apartv r11/2 degrees of circular arc, the mechanism being such that the reel R is held stationary for a predetermined interval between each indexing step. In the last position, the lead-in Wires are cutoff by a cutter wheel rotating continuously at high speed. As pointed out above, in the conventional basing ma' chine, the cutter wheel is carried by an arm or lever which is moved in a horizontal plane from one side of the base to the other over the center of the base, thus passing over the ends of all the base prongs. With such an arrangement, the

cutting wheel must be moved bodily from one side of the base to the other in an oscillatory motion and, therefore, must clear the ends of all the prongs. However, in acordance with the invention, the cutting wheel which is designated gen-l erally in Fig. 1 by the numeral I, revolves in a complete circle around the center of the tube base. Merely for explanatory purposes, the reel R is shown as having I2 heads H, into which tubes are loaded as above described. The cutting wheel I is adapted to be rotated continuously at high speed around the axis of its own shaft 2 preferably by a local motor 21, and the axis of the cutting wheel is also adapted to be revolved around vthe axis of the base or head in a step-by-step movement which is synchronized with the stationary intervals of the step-by-step movement of reel R. For this purpose, `the cutting wheel assembly may loe-.revolved under control of the same motor M which drives the reel R, through suitable intermittent gearing as shown in detail in Fig. 2. Merely for explanation, the tube bases are shown as having four prongs P preferably arranged in a circle around the base axis. Consequently, it is necessary to revolve the cutting wheel in successive steps to four successive positions where the wheel engages the corresponding prong P, it being understood that the heads H are so designed that the bulbs when properly loaded have the I ends of the prongs'just slightly below the edge of the cutter wheel.

The revolution of the cutter assembly is so related to that of the reel R that when the reel is rotating, the cutter wheel I is stationary in the full line position A of Fig, 1 and when the reel R is stationary, the cutter wheel I is revolved to the successive positions B, C, D, as indicated by the arrowed circular dot-dash line in Fig. 1.`

Thus, the cutter wheel is subjected to a continuous high speed rotation by its own motor 21 and is revolved in a circular path over the four prongs under control of motor M. The mechanism forr effecting these two movements is shown in detail in Fig. 2. The cutter wheel I is fastened. to the lower end of shaft 2 which rotates around its own vertical axis, being driven from a motor 21 through pulleys 8, 9, belt I0, shaft 6, gear 5 and gear 4. The shaft 2 is retained in a. rotatable housing 3, by suitable ball bearings (not shown) so that as the housing 3 rotates around its own vertical axis, it carries with it shaft 2 and wheel I. Shaft 2. has gear 4 fastened to its upper end which is driven bya gear 5 fastened on the lower end of shaft 6. Shaft 6 is retained by suitable bearings to both housings 3 and 1. Housing 3 is thus free to rotate around, but is vertically restrained on, shaft 6. Pulley 8 is fastened to the shaft 20, it being understoodr that the mechanism` shown in Fig. 2 is supported on a stationary support I3 suitably mounted with respect to the reel R. Gear Il is an integral part of the housing 1 and therefore moves freely around shaft 6. Gear I2 however, is intermittently driven so that for each intermittent period,'it. effects one complete revolution of gear II. This intermittent motion is controlled by gear I6 which rotates freely on shaft I5 carried by support I3. Likewise, gear I2 moves freely on shaft I4 which is also fixed to support I3. Gears I2 and I6 are retained by suit-A able bearings (not shown) on the sup-port I3.

Aflxedto gear I6. is a cam plate I8 and ailixed to gear I1 is a cam plate I9. Gear |1- is fixed to the upper end of shaft 2li` which is directly cou-v pled. through suitable gearingv to the indexing mechanism Which drives. reel R. The timed rela-- tion between the indexing movement'of the reel R and thel intermittent revolution of the wheel I, is controlled by the,v proper choice of the number of teeth on thev respective gears I6, I1, and the proper choice of the active arc of the cam` plates I8, I9. 'I'he active arc of these cam plates is so chosen, that the cutting wheel; is maintained in the position A (Fig. 1) during the indexing movement of the reel R` While theY ratio ofthe several gears corresponds; to a full revolution of gear II during'the` stationary intervals of they reel R'.v It

will be understood that corresponding to the camv cated. It Vwill bey understood' of course that the shaft 6 is arranged so that it is concentric with.-

the center pin or axis of the tube base as indicated in Fig. 2.

In order that the cutting wheel may be adjusted vertically with respect to the ends of the tubeV prongs P, the housing 1 and housing 3' are arranged to be vertically adjustable on shaft I5. This adjustment is effected by a hand nut 23 which moves freely around shaft I5' (Fig; 3), thev nut 23 being retainedfxed in a vertical direction with respect to shaftI5 by a bearing formed between the end of shaft I5 and the shoulder on a, threaded nut 24 which is threaded into the upper end of shaft I5. The'housingxT which is therefore slidably adjustable on the shaft I5 is provided with a threaded extension 28` which is engaged by the internally'threaded portion of nut' 23. Consequently, a rotation of nut 23 will result'in a vertical displacement ofr housing 1.` Hand screw 26 (Fig. 2) serves as a set` screw for locking the housings and cutter in their adjusted vertical positions. Nut 24 carries a screw end 30 at its lower end whereby a rigid connection` is made to shaft I5 to ,facilitate` mounting of the nut 23. Preferably, the nut 24 is long enough so that it can carry a suitable guard.` plate or housing (not shown) for the belt I0. This guard housing may be fastened in place by the nut 25.

It will bev observed therefore, that the gears GII I2; IE;` I'I, (Fig. 2) do not change their position with respect to support I3 during the vertical adjustment oi housings 3 and 1, as'they are retained by their respective bearings to support I3. Gear I I however, does move vertically during the adjustment and for this purpose, gears II` and I2 are suiiiciently wide for maintaining their meshed engagement during `the adjustment.

It is believed that the manner of operation of the cutting operation will be clear from the foregoing description,` it being understood of course, that various changes and modiiications may be made without -departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What `I claim is:

1. A basingfomachine for radio tubes and the like comprising-a1 rotatable supportotodreceive a plurality-"of vvtubes with basesf'means to index said supportto-a plurality ofA positions at least one of `whicl'ris abaking position and `at least one of which. isa4 wire trimming' position, means (associated `ivi/ith the'wire trimming position for severing the protrudingfends-ofv a lead-in Wire, the last-mentioned `meansincluding a high speed rotating cutting Wheel, and means to revolve the wheel bodily around the axis of the tube base, said revolving movement being effected separately from the rotational cutting movement.

2. A basing machine according to claim 1 in which means are provided to revolve the cutting."

Wheel intermittently in a timed relation to the step-by-step machine of said support. 'j

3. A basing machine according to' claim 1 in which means are provided to revolve said wheel bodily only during the intervals'y'vhen said :supportals stationary.: .L' 4. A lead-in wiretrimmin'g device continuously at V high speed, means to support a pronged device Iwith the prongedends in substantial alignment withl the edge of the cutting wheel, and intermittent means to revolve said Wheel bodily around said. prongs to. sever the o l ends of wires protruding from said prongs, the last-mentioned means including a separate motor for driving said intermittent means.

5. A Wire trimmer of the character described, comprising a cutting Wheel, a motor for rotating said wheel continuously at high speed around the wheel axis, and means to intermittently revolve said Wheel about another parallel axis, the lastmentioned means including an intermittent gear train coupled to said wheel, and separate motor means therefor.

6. A Wire trimming device of the character described, comprising a` support, a rotatable housing-carried by said support, a cutting Wheel mounted eccentrically on said housing but capable of independent rotation around its own axis, a motor coupled to said `Wheel shaft forfcontinuously rotating it at high speed, fa gear car'- ried by said housing, and an intermittent gear train cooperating with said gearvto revolve said housing intermittently independently ofthe rotas, v

tion of `said Wheel, andseparate motor operating said intermittent gear train.

'7. A Wire cutting device according to Iclaim 6 imWhich-said support is slidably adjustable to varylthe height of said cutting Wheel with re- "spectf to the work without disturbing the meshed relation of the various gears. Aftrimming mechanism for severing the ends "of `lead-in wires protruding from the prongs of a-"pronged device such as a radio tube and the "likecomprising a cutting Wheel, a support for u said device, motor means for automatically moving` said device into cutting relation `with said `Wl'ieelftvith the edge of the wheel in substantial u alignment withthe endsbf `the prongs, inter- I 4 prfsins'a cutting wheel, motor'me'a'ns to rctatesaid Wheel mittentmeans operatedbysaidmotorgmeans for causing said Wheel to revolve bodily around said prongs to sever said protruding lead-in Wires, and separate motor means for operating said wheel at a high cutting speed.

`JAMES E; PRAY.`

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